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Liverpool great Jamie Carragher has given a frank verdict on Michael Carrick’s level as a manager, saying the former midfielder does not possess the 'stardust' needed to take Manchester United back to the summit of world football. While he accepted that Carrick has brought calm and order to Old Trafford, the pundit feels a more elite figure will eventually be needed.

Carragher questions Carrick's 'stardust'

United have looked far more settled under Carrick than they had for years, but Carragher is still not persuaded that the former England international is the long-term answer for a club aiming for the biggest honours. The Liverpool legend believes that although Carrick has effectively "calmed the circus" at Old Trafford, he does not have the hard-to-define quality required to go up against managers such as Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti on the biggest occasions.

Speaking about the manager’s long-term future, Carragher said on The Overlap: "I’m not saying it’s going to go wrong. What Manchester United have had for the last six months, need that for another 12 months of not being the circus, not being the story all the time, and Carrick brings you that.

"But has he got that stardust to win the biggest trophy? And I think you need to get to a strong position of being a proper Champions League club again.

"A player gets you to a certain level, then we need that stardust. I personally just don’t think Carrick’s got that stardust as a manager to win a Champions League or a Premier League."

The bridge to a world-class successor

The story around Carrick’s spell in charge is increasingly turning into that of a stabiliser rather than a visionary. Carragher argues that the 45-year-old’s main task should be to bring United back to a level where they can attract a proven winner, instead of being the person who ultimately delivers the trophies.

Carragher developed that argument further, saying: "I don’t believe Michael Carrick will win the league or the Champions League with Manchester United, but he’s done a really good job. He could have a good season and put Manchester United in a position to then go and get a Champions League-winning manager."

Establishing a new baseline at Old Trafford

Although the final measure of success at Old Trafford will always be major trophies, Carragher insists that the immediate objective must simply be to re-establish the club among Europe’s top sides. By removing the constant media drama that has surrounded the club in recent years, the former Liverpool defender feels Carrick has put the right foundations in place for consecutive top-four finishes.

"With Carrick... there’s no circus around United," Carragher added. "It feels very calm. He came in, calmed everything down, got Champions League football. The aim for Manchester United next season is to make sure they’re in the Champions League again."

However, the pundit cautioned that reaching that level should not automatically guarantee Carrick’s long-term position, stressing that domestic stability only gives the board more time to make a considered appointment.

Carragher added: "If United could get Champions League football again, that still doesn’t necessarily mean Michael Carrick should stay. But you want to be in a position... to maybe keep Carrick - if he’s done another good job - or you go and get that Champions League-winning manager, or that manager you think can take you to the next level. You need another season of Champions League football again."

The 'man before the man'

Carragher’s view is broadly shared by Carrick’s former midfield team-mate Paul Scholes, who accepts that the current manager may simply be a transitional figure preparing the ground for a more established tactician.

"You’re almost saying he’s the man before the man - the man to settle everything down before that man," Scholes said. "But he is capable. Carrick’s a very determined character, he’s quiet, relaxed, as we said. He’s calmed the circus down."

For the moment, United remain fully focused on preserving this new sense of calm and securing the vital Champions League qualification that could eventually help bring a world-class manager back to Old Trafford.